Modular distributed ventilation system

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure describes a distributed kitchen ventilation system comprising a master module and a plurality of assistant modules to be installed in respective openings in a wall, each module including a removable panel and a fan. Each of the removable panels are disposed within an inner perimeter of the respective openings such that at least one airflow gap is formed between an outer perimeter of the panel and the inner perimeter of the opening and the fan is in fluid communication with the opening in the wall. The removable panels comprise a planar expanse and a raised lip around the outer perimeter, such that each panel is configured to have one or more wall covering materials secured thereon. The master module may include a user interface for operating some or all of the modules.

FIELD

This disclosure relates to systems and methods for ventilation. Morespecifically, the disclosed embodiments relate to kitchen ventilationsystems.

INTRODUCTION

A ventilation system is an important addition to any kitchen, commercialor residential. The ventilation, filtration, and exhaustion of fumes,smoke, steam and the like provides a measured increase in the quality oflife of a kitchen chef. However, existing ventilation systems can beobtrusive and unattractive, sometimes clashing with the rest of thekitchen's decor.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides systems, apparatuses, and methodsrelating to unobtrusive and easily-concealed distributed kitchenventilation systems.

Features, functions, and advantages may be achieved independently invarious embodiments of the present disclosure, or may be combined in yetother embodiments, further details of which can be seen with referenceto the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a ventilation system in accordance with thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front view of another ventilation system in accordance withthe present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a front view of another ventilation system in accordance withthe present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a front view of another ventilation system in accordance withthe present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a side profile view of a front panel of a ventilation systemin accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is another side profile view of a front panel of a ventilationsystem.

FIG. 7 depicts a ventilation system in an externally exhaustingconfiguration.

FIG. 8 depicts a ventilation system in another externally exhaustingconfiguration.

FIG. 9 depicts a ventilation system in another externally exhaustingconfiguration.

FIG. 10 depicts a ventilation system in another externally exhaustingconfiguration.

FIG. 11 depicts a ventilation system in a recirculating configuration.

FIG. 12 depicts a ventilation system in another recirculatingconfiguration.

FIG. 13 depicts a ventilation system in another recirculatingconfiguration.

FIG. 14 depicts a ventilation system in another recirculatingconfiguration.

FIG. 15 depicts a hinge and latching mechanism for use with ventilationsystems of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16 depicts an example of a removable front panel for use withventilation systems of the present disclosure.

FIG. 17 depicts a peg hinge and latching mechanism for use withventilation systems of the present disclosure.

FIG. 18 depicts a master module for use with a distributed ventilationsystem.

FIG. 19 depicts an assistance module for use with a distributedventilation system.

FIG. 20 depicts a distributed ventilation system having the mastermodule of FIG. 18 and the assistance module of FIG. 19 in a firstconfiguration.

FIG. 21 depicts the distributed ventilation system of FIG. 20 in asecond configuration.

FIG. 22 depicts a module for use with ventilation systems of the presentdisclosure in a recirculating configuration.

FIG. 23 depicts an illustrative ducting configuration for use withdistributed ventilation systems of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various aspects and examples of a modular distributed kitchenventilation system are described below and illustrated in the associateddrawings. Unless otherwise specified, a ventilation system in accordancewith the present teachings, and/or its various components, may containat least one of the structures, components, functionalities, and/orvariations described, illustrated, and/or incorporated herein.Furthermore, unless specifically excluded, the process steps,structures, components, functionalities, and/or variations described,illustrated, and/or incorporated herein in connection with the presentteachings may be included in other similar devices and methods,including being interchangeable between disclosed embodiments. Thefollowing description of various examples is merely illustrative innature and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure, itsapplication, or uses. Additionally, the advantages provided by theexamples and embodiments described below are illustrative in nature andnot all examples and embodiments provide the same advantages or the samedegree of advantages.

This Detailed Description includes the following sections, which followimmediately below: (1) Definitions; (2) Overview; (3) Examples,Components, and Alternatives; (4) Advantages, Features, and Benefits;and (5) Conclusion. The Examples, Components, and Alternatives sectionis further divided into subsections, each of which is labeledaccordingly.

Definitions

The following definitions apply herein, unless otherwise indicated.

“Comprising,” “including,” and “having” (and conjugations thereof) areused interchangeably to mean including but not necessarily limited to,and are open-ended terms not intended to exclude additional, unrecitedelements or method steps.

Terms such as “first”, “second”, and “third” are used to distinguish oridentify various members of a group, or the like, and are not intendedto show serial or numerical limitation.

“AKA” means “also known as,” and may be used to indicate an alternativeor corresponding term for a given element or elements.

“Elongate” or “elongated” refers to an object or aperture that has alength greater than its own width, although the width need not beuniform. For example, an elongate slot may be elliptical orstadium-shaped, and an elongate candlestick may have a height greaterthan its tapering diameter. As a negative example, a circular aperturewould not be considered an elongate aperture.

“Coupled” means connected, either permanently or releasably, whetherdirectly or indirectly through intervening components.

“Resilient” describes a material or structure configured to respond tonormal operating loads (e.g., when compressed) by deforming elasticallyand returning to an original shape or position when unloaded.

“Rigid” describes a material or structure configured to be stiff,non-deformable, or substantially lacking in flexibility under normaloperating conditions.

“Elastic” describes a material or structure configured to spontaneouslyresume its former shape after being stretched or expanded.

“Processing logic” describes any suitable device(s) or hardwareconfigured to process data by performing one or more logical and/orarithmetic operations (e.g., executing coded instructions). For example,processing logic may include one or more processors (e.g., centralprocessing units (CPUs) and/or graphics processing units (GPUs)),microprocessors, clusters of processing cores, FPGAs (field-programmablegate arrays), artificial intelligence (AI) accelerators, digital signalprocessors (DSPs), and/or any other suitable combination of logichardware.

A “controller” or “electronic controller” includes processing logicprogrammed with instructions to carry out a controlling function withrespect to a control element. For example, an electronic controller maybe configured to receive an input signal, compare the input signal to aselected control value or setpoint value, and determine an output signalto a control element (e.g., a motor or actuator) to provide correctiveaction based on the comparison. In another example, an electroniccontroller may be configured to interface between a host device (e.g., adesktop computer, a mainframe, etc.) and a peripheral device (e.g., amemory device, an input/output device, etc.) to control and/or monitorinput and output signals to and from the peripheral device.

Directional terms such as “up,” “down,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” andthe like should be understood in the context of the particular object inquestion. For example, an object may be oriented around defined X, Y,and Z axes. In those examples, the X-Y plane will define horizontal,with up being defined as the positive Z direction and down being definedas the negative Z direction.

“Providing,” in the context of a method, may include receiving,obtaining, purchasing, manufacturing, generating, processing,preprocessing, and/or the like, such that the object or materialprovided is in a state and configuration for other steps to be carriedout.

Overview

In general, a ventilation system of the present disclosure includes arecessed housing integrated into a wall or ceiling. The housing of theventilation system is configured to sit inside the structural framing ofthe wall, such that a peripheral lip of the housing is disposedsubstantially coplanar with an outermost layer of the wall (i.e., thedrywall, tiling, façade, etc.). A front panel is configured to sitwithin the housing such that the front panel is also coplanar with theoutmost layer of the wall.

The housing and front panel are configured such that the outer lip ofthe housing circumscribes the periphery of the front panel and leaves agap therebetween. In some examples, the front panel and housing issubstantially rectangular, and the gap is disposed on all four sides ofthe panel. In some examples, the gap may be disposed only on the top,the bottom, either side, or, alternatively, any combination thereof. Insome examples, the panel may be triangular, oval, trapezoidal, orotherwise shaped.

Ventilation systems of the present disclosure include a fan (AKA blower)configured to draw air from the kitchen into the housing of theventilation system through the gap described above. In general, theventilation system may be either recirculating or externally exhausting.A recirculating ventilation system draws air in from the kitchen througha first portion of the gap and redirects it back out into the kitchenthrough a second portion of the gap. An externally exhaustingventilation system draws air in from the kitchen and directs it througha duct to an external vent disposed outside the kitchen, e.g., outsideof the building.

Ventilation systems of the present disclosure include a filter systemdisposed within the housing. The filter system may comprise a singlefilter or a plurality of filters and/or filter layers disposed in theairflow path. The filter system may be accessible by the user e.g., bydisplacement or removal of the front panel. Air is drawn through thefilter by the blower, thereby removing particulates/contaminates fromthe air. The air is then either directed back into the kitchen (e.g., ina recirculating system), or out of the kitchen/building (e.g., in anexternally venting system).

In some examples, ventilation systems include electronics (e.g., acontroller) configured to monitor the filter and airflow of theventilation system as well as provide a user interface for controllingaspects of the ventilation (e.g., turning the ventilation system on andoff, changing the power of the fan, etc.). In some examples, the userinterface may be disposed on the front panel. In some examples, theelectronics may include a timer configured to be reset by the user whena new filter is placed in the ventilation system, to track and indicatethe age of the current filter. In some examples, an air flow sensor isconfigured to measure the air flow of the ventilation system inreal-time. Data from the electronic monitoring system may be retrievedthrough the user interface or transmitted to an application (e.g., on apersonal computer or smartphone associated with the user).

In some examples, the ventilation system includes a distributedventilation system having a plurality of ventilation system modules—suchas a master module and one or more assistant modules. Each module mayinclude all the features of the above-described ventilation systems. Insome examples, the master module includes the user interface in thefront panel and is configured to communicate with the one or moreassistant modules, for example using a wired connection, a wirelessconnection (e.g., Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc.), or another suitablecommunication means.

In some examples, the ventilation modules of the distributed ventilationsystem are recirculating, externally exhausting, or any combinationthereof. In examples where multiple modules of the distributedventilation system are externally exhausting, each of the modules mayhave a respective exhaust and duct configured to join together at a mainduct, which may be coupled to an external vent disposed outside of thebuilding.

EXAMPLES, COMPONENTS, AND ALTERNATIVES

The following sections describe selected aspects of ventilation systemsof the present disclosure, as well as related systems and/or methods.The examples in these sections are intended for illustration and shouldnot be interpreted as limiting the scope of the present disclosure. Eachsection may include one or more distinct embodiments or examples, and/orcontextual or related information, function, and/or structure.

A. Illustrative Ventilation System

As shown in FIGS. 1-17, this section describes examples of theventilation systems described above, configured to be hidden within awall of a kitchen behind the cooktop and integrated into the backsplashof the kitchen wall.

In some examples, the ventilation systems described below arerecirculating ventilation systems (i.e., air is drawn into the systemand returned to the kitchen). In other examples, the ventilation systemsdescribed below are externally exhausting ventilation systems (i.e., airis drawn into the system and ducted to an environment exterior to theroom, home, or building). A more detailed description of these twoexamples is provided below.

Each of the example ventilation systems described below are similarlynumbered, for example, a ventilation system 100 includes a housing 102and, likewise, a ventilation system 200 includes a housing 202. For anygiven ventilation system described below, components share similarfeatures with similarly numbered components unless stated otherwise.

As shown in FIG. 1, a housing 102 of ventilation system 100 isconfigured to be disposed within a wall (e.g., a backsplash) adjacent acooktop 104 (e.g., a cooking range) such that a peripheral lip 106 ofthe housing 102 is disposed substantially coplanar with an outermostlayer of the wall (i.e., the drywall, tiling, façade, etc.). A frontpanel 108 having a peripheral panel lip 107 is disposed within housing102, such that panel lip 107 of front panel 108 is coplanar with lip 106and the outmost layer of the wall.

Housing 102 and front panel 108 are configured such that lip 106 of thehousing circumscribes the front panel, leaving a gap 110 therebetween.In the current example, front panel 108 and housing 102 aresubstantially rectangular. Portions of gap 110 may be utilized byventilation system 100 for air intake. Similarly, portions of gap 110may be utilized by ventilation system 100 for air exhaust. Gap 110 mayhave any suitable dimensions configured to facilitate adequate airflow.For example, gap 110 may be between 0.25 inches and 6 inches. In someexamples, gap 110 does not exceed 25% of a width of panel 108 on anygiven side.

The removable front panel is designed such that standard or custom wallcovering, e.g., custom backsplash material (tile, granite, metal, glass,etc.), may be mounted to the panel to match the surrounding wall orbacksplash, or to create a specific design contrast. This backsplashmaterial may be mounted by fastening from the rear, or by using anadhesive such as those designed specifically for mounting tile, or otheradhesives specific to the application.

As shown in FIG. 1, gap 110 may be disposed on all four sides of panel108. In this example, panel 108 may be proportionally similar to lip106, such that gap 110 maintains a same or similar width on all foursides of panel 108. This configuration enables proportional airflow onall sides of panel 108, either during intake or exhaust. Thisconfiguration may be advantageous in an externally exhaustingventilation system, where gap 110 functions entirely for air intake.

As shown in FIG. 2, a panel 208 may be configured such that a gap 210comprises a bottom gap 210A at the bottom portion of panel 208 and a topgap 2108 at the top portion of panel 208. In this example, the distancebetween the two sides of panel 208 and a lip 206 is reduced oreliminated, such that minimal airflow is allowed through the sides.

FIGS. 3 and 4 depict further examples of front panels and gaps. Namely,in the example shown in FIG. 3, a front panel 308 may be configured suchthat a gap 310 is present at the sides and the top, but the bottom gapis closed. FIG. 4 depicts an example wherein a gap 410 is onlymeaningfully present at the top of a front panel 408.

Turning to the sectional side views of FIGS. 5 and 6, all of the frontpanels described herein include a panel housing 512 and a decorativeface 514. Panel housing 512 comprises a peripheral panel lip 507 and aplanar expanse 509. Decorative face 514 may include any suitable wallcovering or other material configured to match a covering, pattern,and/or decoration of the surrounding wall. Adhesive may be disposedbetween decorative face 514 and planar expanse 509 to affix the face tohousing 512. In some examples, grout is disposed between the peripheryof face 514 and panel lip 507 (and/or elsewhere) to match a pattern ofthe wall.

As depicted in FIG. 6, all of the front panels described herein mayalternatively include a decorative face 614, which may include aplurality of sub-pieces (e.g., tiles) affixed to a planar expanse 609 ofa panel housing 612, for example, with adhesive. Each sub-piece of thedecorative face may be separated by grout. This arrangement may beparticularly advantageous when any one of the front panels describedherein is installed in a kitchen having a tiled backsplash. Decorativeface 614 may be configured to match a tiling of the tiled backsplashsuch that the panel and backsplash are substantially similar inappearance. In some examples, portions of decorative face 614 may extendpast a peripheral panel lip 607 of panel housing 612 to mate with tilesof the tiled backsplash such that portions of the front panel are nearlyindistinguishable from portions of the backsplash. For example, one ormore edges of face 114 may be castellated and/or otherwise configured tointerdigitate or interlock with edges of the surrounding wall.

Turning to FIGS. 7-10, the ventilation systems described herein may beconfigured to exhaust air externally. In these embodiments, theventilation systems further comprise a blower, a filter system, andductwork. The blower is configured to draw air into the housing througha gap (e.g., gap 110, 210, 310, etc.), and further draw the air throughthe filter system. The filter system may comprise a single filter or aplurality of filters of similar or differing material. The filter systemmay include paper products, polypropylene, activated carbon,polyurethane, polyester, metal, and/or another suitable air filteringmaterial. Additionally, or alternatively, the filter system may includeelectrostatic filtration. The air is then directed through the ductworkto an external exhaust vent (not shown).

In the example depicted in FIG. 7, blower 716 is disposed within housing702, and filter system 718 is similarly disposed therein. Filter system718 is shown vertically aligned and parallel with front panel 708,disposed entirely across housing 702, and positioned in between thefront panel and blower 716. In this example, gap 710 is disposed atleast at the top and bottom of front panel 708 and blower 716 isconfigured to draw in air from all portions of gap 710. The air is thendirected through filter system 718, thereby removing particulates fromthe air before being pulled into blower 716.

After filtering, the air is directed into ductwork 720. Ductwork 720 maybe disposed within the wall, concealed from the view of a user. Thefiltered air is moved by the blower through the ductwork to the externalvent. In some examples, ductwork 120 may be insulated, e.g., with afire-retardant material.

FIG. 8 depicts ventilation system 800 in an externally exhaustingconfiguration. Front panel 808 and filter system 818 are arrangedsimilar to ventilation system 700, described above. Blower 816 is showndisposed within ductwork 820 instead of within housing 802. Thisconfiguration enables housing 802 to be smaller than in the example ofventilation system 700, e.g., if ventilation system 800 is to beinstalled in a narrow or thin wall.

In this example, blower 818 draws air in through gap 810, then filtersystem 818, and finally through portions of ductwork 820 before passingthrough the blower. This arrangement enables hot air to cool as itpasses through the ductwork before contacting the blower, therebyprotecting the blower from high temperatures. The blower then directsthe air to the external vent.

In the examples depicted in FIGS. 9 and 10, front panels 908 and 1008are configured such that gaps 910 and 1010 are only present between thetops of front panels 908 and 1008 and housings 902 and 1002,respectively, therefore air is restricted to enter housings 902 and 1002from the top. Accordingly, filter system 918 may be disposed orthogonalto front panel 908 (e.g., in FIG. 9), and filter system 1018 may bedisposed diagonal to front panel 1008 (e.g., in FIG. 10). Thisarrangement enables filter systems 918 and 1018 to be smaller than theprevious examples described above, therefore requiring less material andcost. Blower 918 may be disposed within ductwork 920.

Turning to FIGS. 11-14, the ventilation systems described herein may beconfigured to recirculate the air back into the kitchen after filtering.In some examples, the air may be exhausted from the housing through thesame portion of the gap from which the air is drawn. In other examples,the air may be redirected through a different portion of the gap, ordirected through ductwork to another portion of the kitchen.

In the example shown in FIG. 11, front panel 1108 of ventilation system1100 may be configured such that gap 1110 is present at least at the topand the bottom. Blower 1116 is disposed within housing 1102 with filtersystem 1118 disposed directly at an air intake of the blower. Blower1116 may draw air in from any portion of gap 1110 and through filtersystem 1118. In this example, there is additionally a baffle plate 1122disposed proximate an exhaust of blower 1116. Baffle plate 1122 isconfigured to direct the air from the exhaust of blower 1116 toward aportion of gap 1110 (e.g., at the top of the front panel). The airexhausting from gap 1110 may provide an air-curtain effect as airdischarging from the top of ventilation system 1100 creates a barrierfor ambient air in the kitchen, particularly ambient air directly abovethe cooktop. The air-curtain effect may prevent air contaminated fromcooking from escaping upward, past the exhausting air. Additionally,this arrangement may encourage the intake of air into ventilation system1100 by restricting the air to the region proximate gap 1110.

In the example shown in FIG. 12, air is drawn into housing 1202 ofventilation system 1200 through gap 1210A positioned at the bottom offront panel 1208 by blower 1216. Filter system 1218 may be disposedgenerally orthogonal to front panel 1208 below the blower. Air is drawnthrough filter system 1218 and directed upward, toward gap 1210B.

FIG. 13 depicts ventilation system 1300 having a recirculatingconfiguration. In this example, gap 1310 may be present at least at thetop and the bottom of front panel 1308. Blower 1316 is configured todraw air in from all portions of gap 1310 and direct the air generallydownward through filter system 1318. In this example, blower 1316 isdisposed within ductwork 1320, below housing 1302. Similar toventilation system 1100, baffle plate 1322 is disposed proximate theexhaust of blower 1316 and configured to direct the air out of the topportion of gap 1310. This configuration may additionally create anair-curtain as described above.

Ventilation system 1400 having a recirculation configuration is depictedin FIG. 14. In this example, gap 1410 is only present at the top offront panel 1408 and blower 1416 is disposed within housing 1402. Thetop portion of gap 1410 and the bottom portion of gap 1410 are separatedfrom each other (i.e., partitioned) by an angled baffle plate 1422.Intake air is drawn in through the bottom portion of gap 1410 by blower1416. The intake air then passes through filter system 1418. Afterfiltering, the air is directed by baffle plate 1422 and exhaustedthrough the top portion of gap 1410. In other words, the intake and theexhaust of ventilation system 1400 both occur through the same gap oropening between the panel and the wall. Exhausted air passing throughthe top portion of the gap entrains ambient air above gap 1410 to createan air-curtain, such that contaminated intake air is prevented fromescaping upwards past gap 1410, and instead encouraged into the bottomportion of gap 1410.

As shown by the examples of FIGS. 7-10 and FIGS. 11-14, manyadvantageous configurations of a ventilation system may be utilized inthe present disclosure, some providing different advantages than others.

Turning now to FIGS. 15-17, all of the front panels described herein areconfigured to be positionable or removable, such that the filter systemmay be accessed by the user, e.g., to replace a filter. The front panelsmay be configured to pivot up, pivot down, or pivot to the side using ahinge. A latching system is utilized in some examples to secure thepanel in place while closed.

In some examples, the front panel may be attached to a telescopingsystem to allow removal or, alternatively, the front panel may beattached to the ventilation system via a press-to-latch/press-to-releasefastening system. Other methods of attaching and latching the frontpanel may be utilized.

In the example depicted in FIG. 15, front panel 1508 is configured topivot upwards about a rotational axis defined by hinge 1524. Latchingsystem 1526 is utilized to secure front panel 1508 while the front panelis closed. Latching system 1526 may be magnetic and/or mechanical. Toaccess the interior of housing 1502 and filter system 1518 therein, theuser disengages latching system 1526 and pivots front panel 1508upwards. To close the panel, the user manually rotates the paneldownwards until latching system 1526 engages and the panel is shut andflush with the wall.

FIGS. 16 and 17 depict examples wherein the front panel is removable. Asshown in FIG. 16, front panel 1608 may be configured to pull directlyout from housing 1602.

For example, front panel 1608 may be friction fitted with housing 1602,such that the user may simply pull the front panel out to access filtersystem 1618 and similarly push the panel back into place, until thepanel is fully inserted and flush with the wall. This example may beconfigured to utilize a latching system (e.g., latching system 1526) foradditional securement.

In the example depicted in FIG. 17, front panel 1708 is configured topivot forward a specified amount before a user can remove the frontpanel from housing 1702. This example utilizes latching system 1726 anda peg hinge 1728. Peg hinge 1728 comprises a peg 1730 configured to sitwithin a recess 1732 in housing 1702. Peg hinge 1728 may be configuredsuch that, in response to the user rotating front panel 1708 outward,peg 1730 tilts and moves rearward within recess 1732, thereby displacingfront panel 1708 in a downward direction. This displacement, in concertwith the outward rotation of the front panel, disengages latchingmechanism 1726 and enables peg 1730 to be removed from recess 1732.Accordingly, front panel 1708 may then be removed from housing 1702 andfilter system 1718 may be accessed. To close front panel 1708, the userplaces peg 1730 into recess 1732 and rotates the front panel untillatching mechanism 1726 engages and the front panel is flush with thewall.

B. Illustrative Distributed Ventilation System

As shown in FIGS. 18-23, this section describes a distributedventilation system 2000 (see FIG. 20), comprising ventilation systemmodules configured to be hidden within a wall and integrated into adecorative design of the wall. In general, distributed ventilationsystem 2000 includes a master module 1800 and a plurality of assistantmodules 1900 (see FIGS. 18 and 19, respectively). Various examples ofventilation system modules are described below, though any of theventilation systems described above (e.g., ventilation system 100, 200,700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, etc.) may be utilized as amodule in distributed ventilation system 2000. In other words, theventilation systems described above may be utilized as either the mastermodule or assistant modules in distributed ventilation system 2000, inany combination. For example, distributed ventilation system 2000 mayinclude one or more modules comprising ventilation system 100 incombination with one or more modules comprising ventilation system 200,etc.

In some examples, the one or more of the modules utilized in thedistributed ventilation system are recirculating ventilation systems(i.e., air is drawn into the system and returned to the same room (e.g.,a kitchen), see FIG. 22). In other examples, one or more of the modulesare externally exhausting ventilation systems (i.e., air is drawn intothe system and ducted to an environment exterior to the room, home, orbuilding, see FIG. 23).

As shown in FIG. 18, master module 1800 includes a housing 1802configured to be disposed within a wall, for example, adjacent acooktop. As with the ventilation systems described above, a peripherallip 1806 of the housing 1802 is disposed substantially coplanar with anoutermost layer of the wall (i.e., the drywall, tiling, façade, etc.). Afront panel 1808 having a peripheral panel lip 1807 is disposed withinhousing 1802, such that panel lip 1807 of front panel 1808 is coplanarwith lip 1806 and the outmost layer of the wall.

Housing 1802 and front panel 1808 are configured such that lip 1806 ofthe housing circumscribes the front panel, leaving a gap 1810therebetween. In the current example, front panel 1808 and housing 1802are substantially rectangular. In some examples, portions of gap 1810may be utilized by master module 1800 for air intake. In some examples,such as when master module 1800 is a recirculating ventilation system,portions of gap 1810 may be utilized by master module 1800 for airexhaust. Gap 1810 may have any suitable dimensions configured tofacilitate adequate airflow.

As with the ventilation systems described above, front panel 1802 isdesigned such that standard or custom wall covering, e.g., custombacksplash material (tile, granite, metal, glass, etc.), may be mountedto the panel to match the surrounding wall or backsplash, or to create aspecific design contrast. This backsplash material may be mounted byfastening from the rear, or by using an adhesive such as those designedspecifically for mounting tile, or other adhesives specific to theapplication. For a more detailed description of front panelconfigurations, including decorative facing, see the discussion abovewith respect to FIGS. 5 and 6.

Master module 1800 includes a user interface 1812 (UI) on front panel1808. User interface 1812 may comprise one or more buttons and/or touchcontrols for controlling electronic aspects of distributed ventilationsystem 2000 (including master module 1800 and assistant module(s) 1900),such as power, fan speed, etc. In some examples, user interface 1812utilizes electronics (e.g., processing logic and/or sensors disposed atleast partially within the housing) to monitor and/or control aspects ofa filter system. For example, user interface 1812 may include a timerfor indicating when a filter of the filter system should be replaced. Insome examples, UI 1812 comprises or is part of an electronic controller.In some examples, user interface 1812 may be coupled to an air flowsensor configured to measure the air flow of the ventilation system,such that data from the air flow sensor is displayed on user interface1812.

Turning to FIG. 19, assistant module 1900 is depicted. Similar to thedescription above with respect to master module 1800, assistant module1900 includes a housing 1902 configured to be disposed within a wall. Aperipheral lip 1906 of housing 1902 is disposed substantially coplanarwith an outermost layer of the wall. A front panel 1908 having aperipheral panel lip 1907 is disposed within housing 1902, such thatpanel lip 1907 is coplanar with lip 1906 and the outmost layer of thewall. Unlike master module 1800, assistant module 1900 does not includea user interface in the front panel.

Housing 1902 and front panel 1908 are configured such that lip 1906 ofthe housing circumscribes the front panel, leaving a gap 1910therebetween. As with other ventilation systems described herein,portions of gap 1910 may be utilized by assistant module 1900 for airintake. In some examples, such as when assistant module 1900 is arecirculating ventilation system, portions of gap 1910 are utilized forair exhaust. Gap 1910 may have any suitable dimensions configured tofacilitate adequate airflow.

As with the ventilation systems described above, front panel 1902 isdesigned such that standard or custom wall covering, e.g., custombacksplash material (tile, granite, metal, glass, etc.), may be mountedto the panel to match the surrounding wall or backsplash, or to create aspecific design contrast. This backsplash material may be mounted byfastening from the rear, or by using an adhesive such as those designedspecifically for mounting tile, or other adhesives specific to theapplication.

In some examples, master module 1800 and/or assistant module 1900 aredimensioned to be fitted between studs of a building, for example havinga height and/or width matching a standard stud spacing, to be easilyinstalled during construction. In some examples, the height and/or widthof the modules is configured to fit between wall studs the centers ofwhich are spaced at 16-inch intervals. For example, a module may beconfigured to fit into a 14.5-inch gap between the studs. In someexamples, master module 1800 and/or assistant module 1900 includes oneor more biasing mechanisms (e.g., springs, resilient fingers, etc.),disposed on the outside of the housing, such that, when the module isinstalled between studs, the biasing mechanism holds the module inplace, with or without additional fastening means. These biasingmechanisms can also accommodate slight variation in the spacing betweenstuds.

Turning to FIGS. 20 and 21, distributed ventilation system 2000 is shownin two configurations, labeled A and B, respectively. For purpose ofillustration, the two configurations depict master module 1800 in aspecific position in the distributed system. This is to show that thereis generally one master module and a plurality of assistant modules. Insome examples, the master module and assistant modules may be disposedin a configuration substantially similar to one of those shown in FIGS.20, 21, though the exact layout and distribution of the system may bechanged depending on the application. It is appreciated that mastermodule 1800 may be in any position in the distributed system, includingat a separate physical location from any of the assistant modules. Forexample, the master module may be located at an easily accessiblelocation (e.g., in a kitchen), such that a user can access userinterface 1812, while each of the assistant modules may be disposedthroughout the kitchen at any suitable locations.

Turning to FIGS. 22 and 23, the modules (i.e., master module 1800,assistant module 1900, and/or both) of distributed ventilation systemmay be recirculating (such as FIG. 22), labeled 2200 or externallyexhausting (such as FIG. 23), labeled 2300. A recirculating module isconfigured to recirculate the air back into the room after filtering. Insome examples, the air is exhausted from the housing through the sameportion of the gap from which the air is drawn. In other examples, theair is redirected through a different portion of the gap or directedthrough ductwork to another portion of the kitchen.

In the example shown in FIG. 22, air is drawn into the housing by ablower 2202 through an intake portion of the gap (e.g., gap 1810 or1910). In some examples, a filter 2204 is disposed between the frontpanel and the blower (e.g., generally parallel to the front panel). Airis drawn through filter 2204 and directed by blower 2202 toward anexhaust portion of gap at the top of the module, as indicated by thearrows in FIG. 22. In some examples, the intake portion of the gap ispresent at least at the bottom of the module and the exhaust portion ofthe gap is present at least at the top of the module. In the externallyexhausting example shown in FIG. 23, each of the modules include ablower 2302 configured to pull air through a filter 2304 and direct theintake air through individual ducts 2306 which collectively meettogether at a single exhaust 2308 (e.g., coupled to an outside vent).The examples shown in FIGS. 22, 23 are illustrative examples ofrecirculating and externally exhausting configuration of modules 1800,1900, though features of the example ventilation systems described inthe previous section (e.g., filter systems, blower configurations,baffle plates, removable front panels etc.) may be utilized in anycombination in modules 1800, 1900.

The blowers utilized in modules 1800, 1900 are controllable by a portionof user interface 1812. In some examples, the blowers are controlledautomatically in response to signals from a cooktop and/or from externalsensors built into an appliance in the kitchen. In some examples, userinterface 1812 can be controlled remotely, e.g., via an external dataprocessing system such as a smartphone or a computer.

Aspects of the ventilation system (e.g., a controller and/or monitoringsystem thereof) may be embodied as a computer method, computer system,or computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the ventilationsystem may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirelysoftware embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code,and the like), or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects,all of which may generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,”“module,” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects of the ventilation systemmay take the form of a computer program product embodied in acomputer-readable medium (or media) having computer-readable programcode/instructions embodied thereon.

Any combination of computer-readable media may be utilized.Computer-readable media can be a computer-readable signal medium and/ora computer-readable storage medium. A computer-readable storage mediummay include an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared,and/or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitablecombination of these. More specific examples of a computer-readablestorage medium may include the following: an electrical connectionhaving one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber,a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, and/or any suitable combination ofthese and/or the like. In the context of this disclosure, acomputer-readable storage medium may include any suitablenon-transitory, tangible medium that can contain or store a program foruse by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus,or device.

A computer-readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer-readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, and/or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer-readable signal medium may include any computer-readable mediumthat is not a computer-readable storage medium and that is capable ofcommunicating, propagating, or transporting a program for use by or inconnection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer-readable medium may be transmittedusing any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless,wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, and/or the like, and/or any suitablecombination of these.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of theventilation system may be written in one or any combination ofprogramming languages, including an object-oriented programming language(such as Java, C++), conventional procedural programming languages (suchas C), and functional programming languages (such as Haskell). Mobileapps may be developed using any suitable language, including thosepreviously mentioned, as well as Objective-C, Swift, C#, HTMLS, and thelike. The program code may execute entirely on a user's computer, partlyon the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on theuser's computer and partly on a remote computer, or entirely on theremote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computermay be connected to the user's computer through any type of network,including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN),and/or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example,through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).

Aspects of the ventilation system may be described below with referenceto flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods,apparatuses, systems, and/or computer program products. Each blockand/or combination of blocks in a flowchart and/or block diagram may beimplemented by computer program instructions. The computer programinstructions may be programmed into or otherwise provided to processinglogic (e.g., a processor of a general purpose computer, special purposecomputer, field programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmabledata processing apparatus) to produce a machine, such that the (e.g.,machine-readable) instructions, which execute via the processing logic,create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in theflowchart and/or block diagram block(s).

Additionally, or alternatively, these computer program instructions maybe stored in a computer-readable medium that can direct processing logicand/or any other suitable device to function in a particular manner,such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable mediumproduce an article of manufacture including instructions which implementthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagramblock(s).

The computer program instructions can also be loaded onto processinglogic and/or any other suitable device to cause a series of operationalsteps to be performed on the device to produce a computer-implementedprocess such that the executed instructions provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block(s).

Any flowchart and/or block diagram in the drawings is intended toillustrate the architecture, functionality, and/or operation of possibleimplementations of systems, methods, and computer program productsaccording to aspects of the ventilation system. In this regard, eachblock may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, whichcomprises one or more executable instructions for implementing thespecified logical function(s). In some implementations, the functionsnoted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the drawings. Forexample, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executedsubstantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed inthe reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. Each blockand/or combination of blocks may be implemented by special purposehardware-based systems (or combinations of special purpose hardware andcomputer instructions) that perform the specified functions or acts.

C. Illustrative Combinations and Additional Examples

This section describes additional aspects and features of a ventilationsystem in accordance with the present disclosure, presented withoutlimitation as a series of paragraphs, some or all of which may bealphanumerically designated for clarity and efficiency. Each of theseparagraphs can be combined with one or more other paragraphs, and/orwith disclosure from elsewhere in this application, in any suitablemanner. Some of the paragraphs below expressly refer to and furtherlimit other paragraphs, providing without limitation examples of some ofthe suitable combinations.

A0. A kitchen ventilation system, comprising:

an opening in a wall;

a removable panel disposed within an inner perimeter of the opening,such that at least one airflow gap is formed between an outer perimeterof the panel and the inner perimeter of the opening; and

a fan in fluid communication with the opening in the wall, wherein thefan is configured to move air through the at least one airflow gap;

wherein the removable panel comprises a planar expanse and a raised liparound the outer perimeter, such that the panel is configured to holdone or more first wall covering materials secured thereon.

A1. The kitchen ventilation system of paragraph A0, further comprising:

one or more second wall covering materials disposed on the wall;

wherein the first and second wall covering materials have a matchingappearance.

A2. The kitchen ventilation system of any one of paragraphs A0 or A1,wherein a front face of the removable panel is flush with the wall wheninstalled.

A3. The kitchen ventilation system of any one of paragraphs A0 throughA2, wherein the at least one airflow gap is formed continuously aroundall edges of the removable panel.

A4. The kitchen ventilation system of any one of paragraphs A0 throughA3, wherein the at least one airflow gap consists of a single gap alongone edge of the removable panel.

A5. The kitchen ventilation system of any one of paragraphs A0 throughA4, wherein the single gap is utilized by the fan as an air intake.

A6. The kitchen ventilation system of paragraph A5, wherein the singlegap is additionally utilized by the fan as an air exhaust.

A7. The kitchen ventilation system of any one of paragraphs A0 throughA6, wherein the at least one airflow gap consists of a first gap along afirst edge of the removable panel and a second gap along an opposingsecond edge of the removable panel.

A8. The kitchen ventilation system of paragraph A7, wherein the firstgap is utilized by the fan as an air intake.

A9. The kitchen ventilation system of paragraph A8, wherein the secondgap is utilized by the fan as an air exhaust.

A10. The kitchen ventilation system of any one of paragraphs A0 throughA9, wherein the inner perimeter of the wall opening and the outerperimeter of the removable panel each have a rectilinear shape.

A11. The kitchen ventilation system of any one of paragraphs A0 throughA10, wherein the wall is part of a room in a building, and the fan isconfigured to cause the air to exhaust to an exterior of the building.

A12. The kitchen ventilation system of any one of paragraphs A0 throughA11, further comprising one or more filters disposed in an airflow pathof the fan.

A13. The kitchen ventilation system of any one of paragraphs A0 throughA12, wherein the at least one airflow gap has a dimension no larger than25% of a width of the removable panel.

A14. The kitchen ventilation system of any one of paragraphs A0 throughA13, wherein the at least one airflow gap has a dimension between 0.25inches and 6 inches.

A15. The kitchen ventilation system of any one of paragraphs A0 throughA14, further comprising a housing;

wherein the removable panel is rotatably attached to the housing via ahinge.

A16. The kitchen ventilation system of paragraph A15, further comprisinga latching mechanism;

wherein the latching mechanism secures the removable panel to thehousing when the removable panel is installed.

A17. The kitchen ventilation system of paragraph A16, wherein thelatching mechanism is magnetic.

A18. The kitchen ventilation system of any one of paragraphs A0 throughA17, further comprising a filter.

A19. The kitchen ventilation system of paragraph A18, wherein the filtercomprises at least one material from the group consisting of: paper,polypropylene, activated carbon, polyurethane, polyester, and metal.

B0. A ventilation system, wherein a master ventilation module of any oneof paragraphs A0 through A19 is configured to control a plurality ofassistant ventilation modules each comprising a respective one of thesystems of any one of paragraphs A0 through A19.

B1. The system of B0, wherein the master ventilation module comprises anelectronic controller having a user interface.

C0. A kitchen ventilation system, comprising:

a plurality of wall openings;

a plurality of ventilation system modules, each module including:

-   -   a removable panel disposed within an inner perimeter of a        respective one of the wall openings, such that at least one        airflow gap is formed between an outer perimeter of the panel        and the inner perimeter of the respective wall opening, the        removable panel comprising a planar expanse and a raised lip        around the outer perimeter, such that the panel is configured to        hold one or more wall covering materials within the raised lip;        and    -   a fan configured to move air through the at least one airflow        gap;

wherein one of the plurality of ventilation system modules is a mastermodule further including a controller configured to control the fans ofthe remaining plurality of ventilation system modules.

C1. The kitchen ventilation system of C0, further comprising a wallcovering material secured to the removable panel and configured to havea consistent appearance with respect to a surrounding wall.

C2. The kitchen ventilation system of C0 or C1, wherein a respectivefront face of each of the removable panels is flush with a surroundingwall when installed.

C3. The kitchen ventilation system of any one of paragraphs C0 throughC2, wherein the at least one airflow gap is continuous around all edgesof the removable panel.

C4. The kitchen ventilation system of any one of paragraphs C0 throughC3, wherein the controller includes a user interface configured toreceive user commands with respect to one or more of the fans.

C5. The kitchen ventilation system of any one of paragraphs C0 throughC4, wherein the at least one airflow gap provides an air intake to thefan.

C6. The kitchen ventilation system of C5, wherein the at least oneairflow gap provides an air exhaust to the fan.

C7. The kitchen ventilation system of any one of paragraphs C0 throughC2 or C4 through C6, wherein the at least one airflow gap consists of afirst gap along a first edge of the removable panel and a second gapalong an opposing second edge of the removable panel.

C8. The kitchen ventilation system of C7, wherein the first gap providesan air intake to the fan.

C9. The kitchen ventilation system of C7, wherein the second gapprovides an air exhaust to the fan.

C10. The kitchen ventilation system of any one of paragraphs C0 throughC9, wherein the wall openings are part of a room in a building, and eachrespective fan is configured to cause air from the room to exhaust to anexterior of the building.

C11. The kitchen ventilation system of C10, wherein the kitchenventilation system further comprises a first duct coupled to theexterior of the building and each ventilation system module includes arespective second duct coupled to the first duct.

C12. The kitchen ventilation system of any one of paragraphs C0 throughC11, further comprising one or more filters disposed in an airflow pathof each of the fans.

C13. The kitchen ventilation system of C12, wherein the one or morefilters comprise at least one material from the group consisting of:paper, polypropylene, activated carbon, polyurethane, polyester, andmetal.

C14. The kitchen ventilation system of any one of paragraphs C0 throughC13, wherein the at least one airflow gap has a dimension from 0.25inches to 6 inches.

C15. The kitchen ventilation system of any one of paragraphs C0 throughC14, wherein each ventilation system module further includes a housing.

C16. The kitchen ventilation system of C15, wherein each removable panelis pivotably coupled to the respective housing via a hinge.

C17. The kitchen ventilation system of C15, wherein the housing has anouter dimension of 14.5 inches.

C18. The kitchen ventilation system of C15, wherein each ventilationsystem module further includes a biasing mechanism disposed on thehousing, the biasing mechanism configured to hold the respectiveventilation system module in the respective opening in the wall.

C19. The kitchen ventilation system of C18, wherein the biasingmechanism comprises at least one spring.

Advantages, Features, and Benefits

The different embodiments and examples of the ventilation systemdescribed herein provide several advantages over known solutions forproviding a kitchen ventilation system hidden e.g., within a wall. Forexample, illustrative embodiments and examples described herein allow anear seamless transition between a kitchen backsplash and a ventilationsystem.

Additionally, and among other benefits, illustrative embodiments andexamples described herein remove the need for a soffit, cabinetry, orother structure used to house a ventilation system to occupy the spaceabove a cooktop.

Additionally, and among other benefits, illustrative embodiments andexamples described herein allow up-to-date monitoring of air filterhealth.

Additionally, and among other benefits, illustrative embodiments andexamples described herein allow more accessibility to the air filtrationsystem.

No known system or device can perform these functions. However, not allembodiments and examples described herein provide the same advantages orthe same degree of advantage.

CONCLUSION

The disclosure set forth above may encompass multiple distinct exampleswith independent utility. Although each of these has been disclosed inits preferred form(s), the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed andillustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense, becausenumerous variations are possible. To the extent that section headingsare used within this disclosure, such headings are for organizationalpurposes only. The subject matter of the disclosure includes all noveland nonobvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements,features, functions, and/or properties disclosed herein. The followingclaims particularly point out certain combinations and subcombinationsregarded as novel and nonobvious. Other combinations and subcombinationsof features, functions, elements, and/or properties may be claimed inapplications claiming priority from this or a related application. Suchclaims, whether broader, narrower, equal, or different in scope to theoriginal claims, also are regarded as included within the subject matterof the present disclosure.

1. A kitchen ventilation system, comprising: a plurality of wallopenings; a plurality of ventilation system modules, each moduleincluding: a removable panel disposed within an inner perimeter of arespective one of the wall openings, such that at least one airflow gapis formed between an outer perimeter of the panel and the innerperimeter of the respective wall opening, the removable panel comprisinga planar expanse and a raised lip around the outer perimeter, such thatthe panel is configured to hold one or more wall covering materialswithin the raised lip; and a fan configured to move air through the atleast one airflow gap; wherein one of the plurality of ventilationsystem modules is a master module further including a controllerconfigured to control the fans of the remaining plurality of ventilationsystem modules.
 2. The kitchen ventilation system of claim 1, furthercomprising a wall covering material secured to the removable panel andconfigured to have a consistent appearance with respect to a surroundingwall.
 3. The kitchen ventilation system of claim 1, wherein a respectivefront face of each of the removable panels is flush with a surroundingwall when installed.
 4. The kitchen ventilation system of claim 1,wherein the at least one airflow gap is continuous around all edges ofthe removable panel.
 5. The kitchen ventilation system of claim 1,wherein the controller includes a user interface configured to receiveuser commands with respect to one or more of the fans of the remainingplurality of ventilation system modules.
 6. The kitchen ventilationsystem of claim 1, wherein the at least one airflow gap provides an airintake to the fan.
 7. The kitchen ventilation system of claim 6, whereinthe at least one airflow gap provides an air exhaust to the fan.
 8. Thekitchen ventilation system of claim 1, wherein the at least one airflowgap consists of a first gap along a first edge of the removable paneland a second gap along an opposing second edge of the removable panel.9. The kitchen ventilation system of claim 8, wherein the first gapprovides an air intake to the fan and the second gap provides an airexhaust to the fan.
 10. The kitchen ventilation system of claim 1,wherein the wall openings are part of a room in a building, and eachrespective fan is configured to cause air from the room to exhaust to anexterior of the building.
 11. The kitchen ventilation system of claim10, wherein the kitchen ventilation system further comprises a firstduct coupled to the exterior of the building and each ventilation systemmodule includes a respective second duct coupled to the first duct. 12.The kitchen ventilation system of claim 1, wherein the at least oneairflow gap has a dimension from 0.25 inches to 6 inches.
 13. Thekitchen ventilation system of claim 1, wherein each ventilation systemmodule further includes a housing, and wherein each removable panel ispivotably coupled to the housing via a hinge.
 14. A kitchen ventilationsystem, comprising: an opening in a wall; a ventilation module of aplurality of ventilation modules, the ventilation module including: aremovable panel disposed within an inner perimeter of the opening in thewall, such that at least one airflow gap is formed between an outerperimeter of the panel and the inner perimeter of the opening; a fan influid communication with the opening in the wall, wherein the fan isconfigured to move air through the at least one airflow gap; and acontroller coupled to the fan and configured to receive commands via auser interface and to control a state of the fan; wherein the removablepanel comprises a planar expanse and a raised lip around the outerperimeter, such that the panel is configured to hold one or more firstwall covering materials secured thereon; and wherein the controller isfurther configured to control a state of one or more other fansassociated with other ventilation modules of the plurality ofventilation modules.
 15. The kitchen ventilation system of claim 14,further comprising: one or more second wall covering materials disposedon the wall; wherein the first and second wall covering materials have amatching appearance.
 16. The kitchen ventilation system of claim 14,wherein a front face of the removable panel is flush with the wall wheninstalled.
 17. The kitchen ventilation system of claim 14, wherein theat least one airflow gap is formed continuously around all edges of theremovable panel.
 18. The kitchen ventilation system of claim 14, whereinthe at least one airflow gap consists of a single gap along one edge ofthe removable panel.
 19. The kitchen ventilation system of claim 1,wherein the at least one airflow gap consists of a first gap along afirst edge of the removable panel and a second gap along an opposingsecond edge of the removable panel, wherein the first gap is utilized bythe fan as an air intake and the second gap is utilized by the fan as anair exhaust.
 20. The kitchen ventilation system of claim 14, furthercomprising a housing, wherein the removable panel is pivotably attachedto the housing via a hinge.